Mayor David Roberts began his second term as Hoboken’s mayor as he was sworn in by acting Governor Richard Codey on a blistering Friday morning.
With some of the brightest political stars in the state present, Roberts promised to produce new open space in town, carefully manage development, build affordable housing, get the city’s budget under control, and continue to improve the quality of life for Hoboken residents.
Roberts was a Hoboken firefighter who left to serve as a councilman before becoming mayor. Roberts’ family owns profitable establishments, including East L.A. Restaurant and Westside Plaza.
Also sworn in Friday was Roberts’ City Council ticket of incumbent Ruben Ramos Jr., and new council members Theresa LaBruno and Peter Cammarano.
The mayor’s platform for the future
One of the topics that Roberts hit upon multiple times in his speech was the need for unity and to bring together all the demographics and ethnicities of Hoboken.
“We going to open up government,” Roberts said. “We are going to make sure that we unite Hoboken, that we listen to all of the voices, and that [City Hall] is an open door for the entire city of Hoboken. Whether you lived here for 70 years or whether it’s your first week in Hoboken, you are going to be treated exactly the same.”
More parks
Roberts said that he will follow through with his ambitious parks initiatives. “We live in a city in an urban environment, and open space is very precious,” he said.
He has promised to create 17 acres of new park space over the next four years. “We are going to follow our new master plan. We are going to build that open space that we promised you. We’re going to have new ball fields; we’re going to make this city more family-friendly,” Roberts said.
Tighter fiscal control
During the election, Roberts’ opposition made inroads by criticizing a city budget that grew by $18 million in four years. Roberts said that this time around, they are committed to tighter fiscal restraints.
“Being mayor of the city has great responsibly and challenges, one of which is I have to oversee a $70 million budget,” Roberts said. “I look forward to years of cutting costs, tightening our belts, and making sure that the taxpayers are looked after, and you have my commitment that we are going to run a much more efficient government.”
Helping the less fortunate
Roberts said that Hoboken is a city with great wealth and that with this affluence comes responsibility.
“We have to make sure that we take care of the people that need the help the most, and we are committed to doing that,” Roberts said. He said that this includes building more affordable housing and pressing for positive changes at the Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA).
Improve public education
Roberts also thanked Stevens Institute of Technology for partnering in a number of programs, including a successful teacher training partnership.
“One thing we are going to do is work very hard to continue to improve public education in Hoboken,” Roberts said. “We’re going to make sure that our public schools are among the best in the state of New Jersey.”
Welcome to the council
In 1999, Ramos became the youngest councilman ever elected in Hoboken when he won the 4th Ward seat. In 2001, he ran on Roberts’ ticket for an at-large seat and again won. That same year he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease, and after a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, he was declared cancer-free in 2000. He later became council president. In the last three weeks, not only has Ramos won an election, but it has also been five years since his cancer went into remission.
“Although the campaign was difficult, we also had our share of good times going door to door,” Ramos said. “What was exciting was that behind every door there was different person, a different face opened that door, a different background, a different culture, and that reminded us [that] the greatness of Hoboken is its people. We promise to represent from Sinatra Drive to Marshal Drive every singe day. That is our pledge to you.”
Cammarano, a young attorney who was involved locally with the John Kerry presidential campaign, said he looks forward to the challenge. “I promise to be tireless and effective as possible in advancing your interests and making a better tomorrow for our community,” Cammarano said to the crowd.
LaBruno is a Hoboken native and Jersey City schoolteacher who has participated in various civic and public causes in Hoboken, including serving on the city’s housing board in the 1990s to help fix the problems in the projects.
In her speech, LaBruno thanked her family; her husband, Joseph, a Hoboken Fire Battalion Chief; and her uncle, three-term mayor Steve Cappiello. “He taught me by example that politics can be, should be, and must be an honorable and noble profession,” LaBruno said.
LaBruno’s speech also focused on the need for improvements at the HHA. “I won’t be afraid to say to the leadership of the Hoboken Housing Authority that all of our residents deserve to live in protected and decent conditions, which includes locked front doors, secured entrances, clean hallways and graffiti-free stairways.”
Supporters in droves
Besides Codey and State Senator Bernard Kenny, Roberts’ supporters included some of Hudson County’s highest elected officials, including County Executive Thomas DeGise, Assembly Speaker Albio Sires, Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons of Hoboken, and Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner.
Campos is president
Fourth Ward Councilman Christopher Campos was voted to be City Council president, replacing Richard DelBoccio, who has become the body’s vice-president.
The move was not unexpected, as it has become the council’s informal policy to rotate presidents every year. With Roberts’ recent strong showing in the city’s 4th Ward, selecting Campos makes sense.